List of sportspeople educated at Texas Tech University
, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university located in Lubbock my Texas. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, the university is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the seventh largest student body in the state of Texas. It is the only school in Texas to house an undergraduate institution, law school, and medical school at the same location. Initial enrollment in 1925 was 910 students; as of fall 2010, the university has 31,637 students from more than 110 countries, all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Since the university's first graduating class in 1927 of 26 students, Texas Tech has awarded more than 220,000 degrees, including 47,000 graduate and professional degrees to its alumni. The Texas Tech Alumni Association, with over 27,000 members, operates more than 120 chapters in cities throughout the United States and the world.
Since 1996, Texas Tech University has sponsored fifteen varsity teams that compete in nine sports: American football, baseball, basketball, cross country running, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. When the university opened for 1925–26 academic year, three varsity teams, baseball, men's basketball, and football, were fielded during that season. Gene Alford, who began playing for the Portsmouth Spartans in 1931, was the first Texas Tech alumni to play in a professional league. Many more Texas Tech alumni have become professional athletes and coaches in sports leagues including Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, National Football League, and the Women's National Basketball Association.
Several Texas Tech Red Raiders have been honored for both their collegiate, and professional achievements. Collegiality, six position awards have been awarded to seven Red Raiders. The Doak Walker Award, honoring the top college football running back, was presented to Bam Morris in 1993 and Byron Hanspard in 1996. The Sammy Baugh Trophy, honoring the top college football passer, was presented to Kliff Kingsbury in 2002, B. J. Symons in 2003, and Graham Harrell in 2007. Harrell also received the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, honoring the most outstanding senior quarterback in college football, in 2008. Wes Welker received the Mosi Tatupu Award, presented to the special teams player of the year from 1997 to 2006, in 2003. In 2007, Michael Crabtree received the Fred Biletnikoff Award and Paul Warfield Award, honoring the top college football receiver. The following season, Crabtree received both awards again, becoming the only player to win either award more than once. Four Red Raiders, Donny Anderson, Hub Bechtol, E. J. Holub, and Dave Parks, have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame. Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Sheryl Swoopes, was the first player signed by the WNBA. Professionally, football coaches Carl Madison and John Parchman were named High School Football Coach of the Year by USA Today in 1988 and 1999 respectively.
Alumni
- "—" indicates that class year is unknown.
- To sort these tables by alumni or class year, click on the icon next to the column title.
Athletics
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association championship track athlete; Ashland University women's cross country head coach | |||
| National Collegiate Athletic Association championship cross country and track athlete; World Championships silver medalist; Olympic silver medalist | |||
| Jason Young | 2004 | 2012 USA Olympian, 2011 World Championships, 2010 World Cup competitor, a and former Strength Coach at Texas Tech Univers.ity | 221 |
Baseball
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| 1977 | Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach | ||
| 1972 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1999 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 2004 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1992 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1996 | Major League Baseball player ; Tri-City ValleyCats manager | ||
| 1997 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1993 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1998 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1989 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1962 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1988 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 2007 | Minor League Baseball player | ||
| 2009 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 2003 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1995 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 2000 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1996 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1995 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 2006 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1999 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1995 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1987 | Green River Gators head coach ; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach | ||
| 2008 | Minor League Baseball player | ||
| 2006 | Major League Baseball player | ||
| 1998 | Major League Baseball player |
Basketball
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| 1997 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1986 | North Texas Mean Green men's basketball head coach | ||
| , | Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks head coach ; Arkansas Lady Razorbacks head coach ; Texas A&M Aggies women's basketball head coach | ||
| 1999 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1998 | American-Israeli National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1995 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2000 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2003 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1950 | Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach | ||
| 2006 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2005 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1996 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1979 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| , | Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach ; Texas Tech University Director of Athletics | ||
| 1953 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2004 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2003 | Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 2002 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1934 | Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach ; Texas Tech University Director of Athletics | ||
| 1996 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1970 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1993 | Olympic Games Women's Basketball gold medalist ; Women's National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1982 | National Basketball Association player | ||
| 1998 | Women's National Basketball Association player |
Football
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| 1925 | National Football League player | ||
| 1977 | Chattanooga Mocs head coach | ||
| 2007 | National Football League player | ||
| 1960 | National Football League player | ||
| 1965 | National Football League player ; College Football Hall of Fame inductee | ||
| 1982 | National Football League player | ||
| 1951 | National Football League player | ||
| 2006 | Canadian Football League player | ||
| 2000 | National Football League player | ||
| 1973 | National Football League player | ||
| 2010 | National Football League player | ||
| 1935 | National Football League player | ||
| 1943 | All-America Football Conference player ; College Football Hall of Fame inductee | ||
| 2010 | National Football League player | ||
| 1991 | CenTex Barracudas head coach ; Lubbock Renegades head coach ; South Georgia Wildcats head coach ; Abilene Ruff Riders head coach ; Amarillo Venom head coach | ||
| 1979 | Houston Cougars head coach ; Baylor Bears head coach | ||
| 1930 | Tulsa Golden Hurricane head coach | ||
| 2000 | National Football League player, Canadian Football League player, and Arena Football League player | ||
| 1940 | National Football League player | ||
| All-America Football Conference player | |||
| 1981 | National Football League player | ||
| 1942 | National Football League player | ||
| 1965 | National Football League player | ||
| 2009 | National Football League player | ||
| 1985 | National Football League player | ||
| 1995 | National Football League player | ||
| 2008 | Fred Biletnikoff Award recipient ; Paul Warfield Award recipient ; National Football League player | ||
| 2004 | Arena Football League player ; San Angelo Stampede Express head coach ; Texas Tech Red Raiders assistant coach | ||
| 1937 | New Mexico State Aggies head coach ; Idaho Vandals head coach | ||
| 2001 | NFL Europa player ; Louisiana Tech Bulldogs assistant coach | ||
| 1983 | National Football League player | ||
| 1929 | National Football League player | ||
| National Football League player | |||
| 2006 | National Football League player | ||
| 2000 | National Football League Player | ||
| 1934 | National Football League player | ||
| 1976 | National Football League Player | ||
| Louisiana Tech Bulldogs head coach | |||
| 1948 | National Football League player | ||
| — | Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1991 | National Football League player | ||
| 1987 | National Football League player | ||
| 1977 | National Football League player | ||
| 2006 | United Football League player ; Arena Football League player | ||
| National Football League player | |||
| 1979 | National Football League player | ||
| 2003 | National Football League player | ||
| 2004 | National Football League player | ||
| 1963 | National Football League player | ||
| 1979 | National Football League player ; United States Football League player | ||
| 2002 | National Football League player ; NFL Europe player | ||
| 1996 | Doak Walker Award recipient ; National Football League player | ||
| 2008 | Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award recipient ; Sammy Baugh Trophy recipient ; National Football League player | ||
| 1983 | National Football League player | ||
| 1955 | National Football League player | ||
| 2005 | AF2 player | ||
| 1936 | National Football League player | ||
| 1961 | Canadian Football League player ; American Football League player ; National Football League player | ||
| 1960 | American Football League player ; College Football Hall of Fame inductee | ||
| 1976 | National Football League player | ||
| 2002 | Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1982 | National Football League player | ||
| 1985 | National Football League player | ||
| 2006 | Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1984 | National Football League player | ||
| 1975 | National Football League player | ||
| 1948 | National Football League player | ||
| 1956 | National Football League player | ||
| 2002 | Sammy Baugh Trophy recipient ; National Football League player ; Canadian Football League player ; Houston Cougars assistant coach ; Texas A&M Aggies offensive coordinator ; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach ; Arizona Cardinals head coach | ||
| 2000 | National Football League player ; Detroit Lions assistant coach | ||
| 2000 | National Football League player | ||
| 1997 | National Football League player | ||
| 2004 | National Football League player | ||
| 1991 | National Football League player ; National Football League assistant coach ; Los Angeles Chargers head coach | ||
| USA Today High School Football Coach of the Year | |||
| 1999 | National Football League player ; NFL Europe player ; Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1938 | National Football League player | ||
| 2008 | National Football League player | ||
| 1991 | National Football League player | ||
| 1986 | National Football League player | ||
| 1934 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach ; Cornell Big Red head coach ; San Francisco Dons head coach ; Chicago Rockets head coach | ||
| 1993 | National Football League player ; World League player ; Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1986 | National Football League player | ||
| 1977 | National Football League player | ||
| 1967 | National Football League player | ||
| 1993 | Doak Walker Award recipient ; National Football League player ; National Indoor Football League player | ||
| 2008 | Canadian Football League player | ||
| 1999 | National Football League player | ||
| 1947 | All-America Football Conference player | ||
| 1936 | National Football League player | ||
| 1937 | National Football League player | ||
| USA Today High School Football Coach of the Year | |||
| 1963 | National Football League player ; College Football Hall of Fame inductee | ||
| National Football League player | |||
| 2006 | National Football League player | ||
| 1937 | National Football League player | ||
| 1981 | National Football League player | ||
| 1938 | National Football League player | ||
| 1998 | National Football League player | ||
| 2002 | Oklahoma Sooners head coach | ||
| 1982 | National Football League player | ||
| 1972 | National Football League player | ||
| 1946 | All-America Football Conference player | ||
| National Football League player | |||
| 1945 | National Football League player | ||
| 1940 | All-America Football Conference player | ||
| 1985 | National Football League player | ||
| 2004 | National Football League player | ||
| 1986 | National Football League player | ||
| 1960 | National Football League player | ||
| 1987 | National Football League player | ||
| 2003 | Sammy Baugh Trophy recipient | ||
| 1977 | National Football League player | ||
| 1995 | National Football League player | ||
| 1973 | National Football League player | ||
| 1988 | National Football League player | ||
| 2007 | National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I record holder for most points after touchdowns | ||
| 1961 | National Football League player ; American Football League player | ||
| 2008 | National Football League player | ||
| 1968 | National Football League player | ||
| 1990 | National Football League player | ||
| 2009 | National Football League player | ||
| 1984 | National Football League player | ||
| 1980 | National Football League player | ||
| 1938 | National Football League player | ||
| 2003 | Mosi Tatupu Award recipient ; National Football League player | ||
| 1939 | Midwestern State Mustangs head coach ; Northeast Louisiana Indians head coach | ||
| 1990 | Tarleton State Texans head coach ; Sam Houston State Bearkats head coach | ||
| 2008 | National Football League player | ||
| 1974 | National Football League player | ||
| 1939 | National Football League player | ||
| 2001 | National Football League player | ||
| 2000 | National Football League player | ||
| 1966 | Texas A&M Aggies head coach | ||
| 1947 | All-America Football Conference player |
Golf
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| 1959 | 1989 Greater Grand Rapids Open winner; 1992 Ameritech Senior Open winner | ||
| 2007 | Professional golfer on the European Tour | ||
| 1976 | Professional golfer; Texas Tech Red Raiders golf head coach ; Stanford Cardinal men's golf head coach ; North Texas Mean Green women's golf head coach |
Volleyball
| Alumnus | Class year | Notability | Refs |
| 1978 | Texas–Arlington Mavericks head coach ; USC Trojans head coach ; American Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee ; Arizona State University athletic director |